Merchiston Castle School: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Additionally to the usual subjects which students need to attend, this top UK boarding school also focuses on additional skills. For example all pupils gain a basic understanding of ICT, a practical knowledge of number foreign languages, and skills in communication, both orally and in a written form. These are essential ‘everyday’ skills which all boys should be familiar with.

Classes are small and the overall teacher/pupil ratio is 1:9. Consequently, individual focus is aimed for every student both inside and outside the classroom. In the GCSE year and in the Sixth Form Boarding School, there are usually additional classes aimed to support our students.

Merchiston Juniors 8-13

What Merchiston only boys boarding school  can offer your child.

This top UK boarding school can give boys the perfect start to their education from 8 years old. We provide a different approach from other boys’ boarding schools in that we make easier the progression from Junior to Senior education, which avoids the steep 'step-up’ boys can experience when moving on from Primary education. This best boys only boarding school does this simply by presenting Juniors to Senior School teachers and teaching methods from age 10, and during their two final years  they are given all the resources and advantageous of Senior School. We 'graduate’ the critical moment in every boys life between 10 and 13, as to give our boys a possibility to move up to the Senior School with self-confidence and additional experiences. It’s the 'best of both worlds’: the advantages of a vibrant Junior School, with the facilities of one of the UK’s leading Senior Schools.

Some parents also think that starting their sons at Merchiston at 8,9 or 10 ensures that they avoid the stress of the Common Entrance exams – or often difficult and stressful he decision process concerning a choice of senior school.

Boys at Juniors Boarding School  can board or be day-students. Safe and sound Pringle House, which is the borders’ residence, is a perfect and simple way to present boys with livining and spending time together.

Senior School 13+

Senior School educates boys from the age of 13. At this top boys only boarding school we refer to the first three years of Senior School, from 13 through to 16 and GCSEs, as the 'Middle Years’. They then enter the Sixth Form Boarding School.

New students start in Fourth Form, when they join Chalmers West House. They meet up with those boys who have moved up from our Juniors and form a year community of  around 60 boys. In the following year, which we refer to as 'Shell’, the students start to focus on their GCSEs. The next year, Fifth Form, is in fact a crucial GCSE year, and this is the time when all the preparation and hard work is really appreciated by our students.

This Top Boys only Boarding School’s House System, where boys advance in a cohort of their year group, allows friendships and allows to make strong relations between each other. Boys grow up really fast between 13 and 16, and our specialise knowledge of teaching male students in a single sex environment gives the Merchiston boy, in my opinion, the best possible start to go on smoothly into the Sixth Form.

Sixth Form Boarding School 16+

The Sixth Form Boarding School takes boys through their A levels and, in most of the times, on to university or college. Most parents by sending their children to this top boys only boarding school for this two-year period gives them a chance to make the most of the crucial period in their lives. In the 'Lower Sixth’ boys generally sit their AS level exams, going on to their A2 level exams in Upper Sixth.

The day students have their own house at school, namely Evans House. All boys are given a great deal of combination between responsibility and freedom. Many will become prefects, and will have to obtain duties and responsibilities in order to help to run our School. They are no longer wearing school uniforms but dark suits which symbolise their higher independence.

Boys starting with us in Lower Sixth will join a year group composed of around 80 students. Some have been here from age 8 or 9, while others joined later in time. Whilst this group has bonded into a very vibrant community, we are always glad to welcome new arrivals, and to help them enrich our boarding school community. We welcome boys from each and every corner of the world: lately we had 24 different nationalities. Indeed our Sixth Form Boarding School, and the wonderful new Laidlaw House, has become so popular that we have more candidates than places in our offer.

Some boys find that our Sixth Form Boarding school gives them that extra power and 'edge’ to get the A level results they really want. For others (international students) it may be a chance to master their English language abilities. And for some it is Merchiston’s sporting excellence in rugby, cricket or tennis which attracts them.